Psalm 24: 1The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. 3Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.a 5They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. 6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.b c 7Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory.
Today’s Three Pearls
- For he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters – v.1: The earth was founded on waters, it is inherently unstable and subject to natural and man-made upheavals. The one who is heavily or solely vested in worldly ways will be as unstable as the foundations of the world that he idolizes, he will never have inner peace. The one who rests in the promises of an unchanging God and who is cleft in the Rock of Ages will be standing strong even if the earth moves under him, he has the special peace of Christ, not as the world gives.
- Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?………The one who has clean hands and a pure heart…-v.3: The mountain of the Lord is the Seat of Glory. It is a hard mountain to climb because it requires difficult choices and continual warfare; it is bound to involve distresses, afflictions and persecutions as a means of purification; it requires shaking off bad company or friends as well as enduring the world’s hatred. It is the pure in heart that shall see God, because our hearts are more reflective of who we are than our hands and activities for God. On our own, none can meet or pass the requirements for clean hands and a pure heart, for inner and outer purity; but by redeeming grace, all now have the potential to ascend to the Throne of Grace. Having received God’s righteousness, we march right behind Jesus upwards and it is He that cries out for the gates to be lifted up for all the co-heirs of His grace and righteousness.
- Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle….Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory – v.8-10: In the first response, Jesus is described in His first ascension as being strong and mighty in battle having won the battle over evil. In the second response, we imagine His second ascension, after He would have come down with the armies of heaven and would then return with the hosts, the dead in Christ and the living righteous. He returns as the Lord of glory.
Ref: Treasury of David
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 